variants
also nonplused
as in perplexed
faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say, think, or do
the self-possessed actress seemed uncharacteristically nonplussed after the director's harsh appraisal of her performance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also nonplused
as in embarrassed
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
I was nonplussed by his openly expressed admiration of me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nonplussed
Francesca Street, CNN Money, 2 May 2025
McCarthy, just on the outside of that speed, was nonplussed.
—Dana O'Neil, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Yep, see how absolutely knackered and completely nonplussed the players are from a totally new angle.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
From the condom in the soup, no, chowder (that’s not how Ina Garten makes her chowder), to the diners’ nonplussed reactions when Yancy tells them all to stop eating, all the food inspector stuff is an absolute hoot.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for nonplussed
Adjective
Take TikTok user Taylor Hamm’s airport dancing video, for example, in which a nonplussed airport janitor directly walks through her frame.
—Francesca Street, CNN Money, 2 May 2025
McCarthy, just on the outside of that speed, was nonplussed.
—Dana O'Neil, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Yep, see how absolutely knackered and completely nonplussed the players are from a totally new angle.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
From the condom in the soup, no, chowder (that’s not how Ina Garten makes her chowder), to the diners’ nonplussed reactions when Yancy tells them all to stop eating, all the food inspector stuff is an absolute hoot.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for nonplussed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonplussed
Adjective
-
Veteran Harold Gould earns laughs as the often perplexed grandfather.—
Kirk Honeycutt,
HollywoodReporter,
12 July 2025
-
Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images Clarkson hinted at not liking three drivers on the grid, which left Brundle quite perplexed and didn't press the reality TV star on who those drivers were.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 July 2025
Adjective
-
This run – and the exhausted, bewildered looks on the players’ faces throughout it – has no doubt shaped Inter’s odds to win away to Barcelona, which look pretty close to long shot territory.—
Sam Tighe,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
-
In the two years since Tommy Elliott was killed in a mass shooting, Maryanne’s grief has, in turns, left her aghast and overwhelmed, bewildered and incapacitated, grateful and wanting to die.—
Kristina Goetz,
USA Today,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
And finally, a baffled daughter-in-law shared that her mother-in-law took it upon herself to write directly on their back door—with a green pen.—
Cameron Schoppa
Alex Backus,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 July 2025
-
But its favorite mood, by far, is one of mild titillation, which arises whenever something slightly out of the ordinary occurs—a ball flies into the crowd, a baffled bird pecks at the service line, a champagne cork enters the field of play—and a burr of chatter rips round the court.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
12 July 2025
Verb
-
Many people get confused by these forms which contain code and jargon that rarely offer a clear explanation of anything.—
Steve Weisman,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
-
Not to be confused with DEI training, skill building is a way to help people improve their communication skills, negotiation style and overall understanding of relevant topics, all while leveling up professionally.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes,
21 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Experts urge people not to ignore or feel embarrassed about digestive symptoms.—
Sarah Garone,
Health,
30 July 2025
-
My family is embarrassed by my fashion sense, or lack thereof.—
Kimberly Zapata,
Parents,
29 July 2025
Adjective
-
Hurley shared his photo on her Instagram Stories, pairing it with the most mom reaction possible: a flustered emoji.—
Michael Nied,
People.com,
8 July 2025
-
In America, my mother had obtained a license but didn’t drive, having once hesitated too long at a changing traffic light and gotten flustered.—
Jhumpa Lahiri,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nonplussed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonplussed. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share